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I'm currently running Gold Lion re issue KT77 on my amp and 6922 siemens gold pin on my Pre. This combo sounds beautiful. I'm having the itch to try out a set of EL34s. I can only afford the Svetlana or the JJs at the moment. What should I expect from this 2 brands of EL34 tubes in comparison to my current GL KT77?
Follow Ups:
I've tried the current production Gold Lion KT77 in my amp, as well as JJ E34L, EH EL34, current Mullard EL34, Tung Sol EL34B, and briefly Winged =C= EL34.For the current production Svetlana EL34 (and other EL34 types), here's a link that might be of interest: review
My JJ E34L were from around 2003. I really liked these. Better than some other EL34s, they had a very palpable quality with rich tone color, and they imaged nicely. So, JJ now makes something like three or four varieties of EL34/6CA7. However, you never know how they might have changed over the years. Also, numerous forum reports of reliability issues have given me pause.
The Gold Lion KT77 is the all-around best of all the tubes I've tried in my amp, and not by a small margin . I say this begrudgingly, however, because IMO I don't think you should have to pay this much for a truly good-sounding tube.
I estimate that the only sonic competition the GL KT77 has are the high end Chinese tubes or maybe specialty offerings from a place like Sophia Electric. But, with Chinese tubes from Chinese sellers, things get difficult if they arrive damaged or if they fail prematurely. I think they typically expect you to pay shipping to have the damaged or failed tube returned to them in China, so there goes the ballgame. Don't know what the story is with Sophia Electric or any similar places that might be out there.
One word of caution about octal base tubes made in China (whoever sells them)... Every Chinese octal base tube I have owned, and many I have seen images of online, have pins that to my eyes appear splayed , and also in some cases excessive solder. This makes for a situation that I experienced, where you kind of have to force the tubes into the sockets, which then deforms or loosens the socket contacts. If you later remove the tubes and replace them with different tubes having straight pins, you can run into problems.
So, short of spending the big $ on GL KT77 or their pricey competition, I think a JJ EL34 variant is a reasonable sonic alternative to sojourn with to see how it strikes your fancy. Question is where to buy them; who screens them properly?
Edits: 12/16/17 12/16/17 12/16/17 12/16/17 12/16/17 12/16/17
They don't sound very much alike, the GL being very linear and powerful, the JJ rich and bloomy. It is worth having both, but these are all matters of taste.I must be the lucky guy that has many JJ octal tubes and not one failure. One of my Gold Lion KT88s failed rather dramatically.
Edits: 12/16/17
I really enjoyed my JJ E34L... hoping for a new set when I can get around to it.
I'm holding on to a few quads of those as well. Getting spendy though.
You are always the final judge - but I'd skip the EL34s. The KT-77 Genalex are REALLY good.
What should you expect from the two EL34 brands you mentioned? IMHO - disappointment - if you expect either to be better.
Do be advised I prefer accuracy and fidelity over euphonics.
to compare the KT77 to the recent blue EL34ST release, Jim?
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
That being said which EL34 family tubes out there would be at par or better (I know it's very subjective) than the GL KT77 in your opinion? Just curious. Thanks.
Two things. One, I don't have your amp and two is I have the GL KT88 and 66's. This is only a personal review but this is what I hear. When I roll the GL KT's there is more "energy" in both the top and bottom end but a leaner (not weak or absent) midrange. I find going up from the 66 to the 88 you get more midrange. Again, this is MY findings. With the EL34's I find a softer top end and a fatter midrange. Bass is softer but still very much there.
If you can have a nice set of each. The KT's bring in something very special as do the EL34's. Both different but both very inviting to listen too. You can't go wrong with either so it really depends on your taste and what you are looking for.
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